If the weekend weather’s got you down, your best call is to head inside and hunker down with some good people and good music. Heading over to Johnny Brenda’s will land you in front of Philly favorites Grandchildren, whose glowing indie-electro-rock will warm your rain-chilled soul and soften your summer heat-hardened heart. They just released a new song, “Where’s the Knife,” from their upcoming album over at Paste Magazine. Grandchildren are opening for the global pop duo The Very Best, who list their influences as “Lil Wayne and Phil Collins” and have a set of head-bopping, hip-shaking afropop tunes in store to get Frankford Ave dancing. The show starts at 9:15 (doors at 8), and admission is 21+; tickets are available for $13 here. Below, watch the video for “Kondaine,” an jubilant track from The Very Best’s forthcoming album, MTMTMK.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDvwzgML6ZQ

Or if you’re in a heavier mood, head over to The Fire for Philly’s own self-proclaimed “twangcore” rockers Betty Iron Thumbs, who’ll be taking that tiny stage along with a whole plethora of rock n’ rollers including South Carolina’s Modern Man, Virgina’s Gunchux, and locals Horace Mann. Tickets are $7 here; the show starts at 8 and is 21+. Below, stream “Under the Night,” the title track from Betty Iron Thumbs’ latest album.

Finally, if none of the aforementioned quite fits your fancy, why not try out local psych-folks Meddlesome Meddlesome Meddlesome Bells, playing an early show at Silk City. They’ll be pairing their slow and lilting heady folk-rock jams along with the likes of fuzzed-out locals Dreambook, punk shoe-wave outfit Canary oh Canary, and Brooklyn shoegazers Invisible Days. Admission to the 6 p.m. show is $7 at the door; the show is 21+. Below, stream “O the Sun” from Bells’ first full album, The Sirens, Too, Sang That Way. Their latest album Worried Land is available on their website in vinyl or pay-what-you-want download.

About The Key

Philadelphia: Home to a rich musical history, a unique musical identity, and one of the nation's most thriving musical communities. In a scene filled with so many local bands worth listening to, there will always be new music to discover—and The Key is your source for finding it. Brought to you by WXPN—the non-commercial public radio station that World Cafe, XPN2, and XPoNential Music Festival call home—The Key covers all local music in Greater Philly and beyond.GET IN TOUCH

Bourbon & Branch will host an evening of dark Americana exploration this Friday October, 10th. Curator Brandon Och has called in several local acts to indulge in his “foolish dream” of creating a “David Lynch meets Nina Simone meets William … Continued

King Britt & Dozia’s Back2Basic’s Reunion takes place tonight at Hard Rock Cafe. A revival of the legendary Philly nightclub night, the event hosts both live musicians as well as DJs, allowing for a genre-bending night of frenzy. Started in … Continued

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About The Key

Philadelphia: Home to a rich musical history, a unique musical identity, and one of the nation's most thriving musical communities. In a scene filled with so many local bands worth listening to, there will always be new music to discover—and The Key is your source for finding it. Brought to you by WXPN—the non-commercial public radio station that World Cafe, XPN2, and XPoNential Music Festival call home—The Key covers all local music in Greater Philly and beyond.GET IN TOUCH